Catlin's Appaloosa(14)
“You can’t,” Gallo whispered.
To Catlin’s surprise, the shifter actually held his gaze when he said it.“Why not? I am a cop. I can send them to jail for a long time, baby.”
Gallo shivered and looked away.
Catlin pulled him close, rubbing his back.“Talk to me, Gallo,” he pleaded.
“You can’t bring them to justice because they’re shifters. That’s why.” The man introduced as Eli growled the words, his lip curling in disgust.“It was his family.”
“That’s enough, Eli,” Kontra snapped.
Silence descended, and Catlin watched the two men for a second. He saw how Eli watched Gallo and recognized some of the emotions working across his features, a mixture of concern, compassion, desire, and resignation. The man had been intimate with his lover in the past. Catlin wondered if Eli would try to take Gallo from him, and knew if Eli tried, he’d have a hell of a fight on his hands.
“The existence of shifters must remain a secret,” Kontra stated flatly, drawing Catlin’s attention back to the conversation.
“What? Why?” Catlin frowned.
“Can you imagine what would happen if you tried to prosecute them as humans and it somehow came out that they could turn into paint horses?” Haben pointed out. “We don’t need to advertise our existence. It would only cause a shit-load of problems. We have shifter friends in Colorado who are fighting against a band of scientists right now. Some private company has been doing experiments on us for the last hundred years or so. We don’t need to add problems with the government and cops, too!”
“Haben, that’s enough.” Kontra said the words quietly, but the other man obeyed immediately. Silence fell over the room’s occupants for a moment, then Kontra stated,“The reason you feel so protective of Gallo is because he’s your mate. Fate gives a shifter one true mate, and you’re it for Gallo, Catlin. With the exception of Gallo’s sister, who’s no longer part of his old herd, Gallo’s family doesn’t know where he is. Do you really want to open a case that could endanger his life from not only his family, but the government and private companies looking to exploit his abilities as well? Can you protect him from everyone?”
Catlin remained quiet for a moment, trying to wrap his mind around everything these men were saying. The shuddering of the man he adored prompted him to pull Gallo onto his lap. He dropped his gaze to his lover, smoothing his hands over his back, caressing his spine, and massaging his neck. Gallo held tight to him, and finally the trembling stopped.
“Please,” Gallo whispered.
He didn’t like the fear in Gallo’s eyes when he stared up at him. That one word rocked Catlin, and he knew he could never do anything to endanger this man. He nuzzled his face into his lover’s neck.“It’s going to be okay, love. We’ll let it go.” Gallo peeked at him from under his lashes, and Catlin smiled down at him. “Your safety is more important than anything else, and if going after your family would put you in harm’s way, then I’d never do that.”
“Thank you,” Gallo whispered.
Catlin’s lips curved up. It wasn’t quite a smile, but relief calmed him.
“What about the other guy?” Kontra asked.
“What other guy?” he asked, confused.
“The other guy who saw Gallo shift into a horse?” Eli elaborated dryly.
“Brock is my partner on the force. I’m sure I can get him to keep silent,” he said, voice full of conviction.
“Good,” Kontra replied,“because your mate’s life depends on it.”
Catlin’s brows narrowed. “You’ve said the term mate a number of times. What does that mean?”
“Each shifter gets one mate, designated by Fate,” Haben started, and Catlin nodded, remembering them saying that already.
Eli leaned back in his chair and crossed his arms over his chest.“Think of it as love at first sight, or finding your soul mate. He’s your perfect complement.”
“That’s not saying the relationship won’t require work,” Kontra added quickly,“but with a shifter, you have a built in guarantee that he’ll never cheat, and he’ll only want what’s best for you, or will make you happy.” Then his eyes hardened, and so did his tone. “Just keep in mind that we bikers are Gallo’s family, and we won’t tolerate anyone mistreating him.”
“I’d never mistreat him,” Catlin snapped, frustrated, his mind reeling with the information he’d been given.
Gallo squirmed on his lap, and he felt his cock respond to the movement, thickening and lengthening in his jeans. It quickly distracted him from his confusing thoughts, and he bit back a groan and looked down at Gallo. The other man stared up at him through his lashes, obviously wanting to ask something. Catlin cupped his cheek and stroked his thumb over his plump bottom lip.“You never have to ask permission to talk to me, Gallo.” He wasn’t that kind of Dom.“What is it?”